Catch the vibe, taste the flavor in Lafayette—West Lafayette!

January 6, 2017

LOCATED ONE HOUR NORTHWEST OF INDIANAPOLIS

Home to Purdue University, one of the twenty-five largest universities in the country and a member of the Big Ten, this community offers a diverse array of arts, culinary delights, attractions, nature, outdoor recreation and more.

The Downtown makes for a great shopping experience with its many unique artisan and antique shops, galleries, delectable restaurants, architecture, nightlife and entertainment. Art galleries and a large portion of the Outdoor Art Trail is also found here. It even has its own website: readysetgodowntown.com.

Culinary reigns! Wine and dine in elegant restaurants, enjoy a casual meal with a courthouse view or opt for an ethnic café or neighborhood deli. Indiana’s first drive-in, Triple XXX Family Restaurant, has been featured by Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. “Meet you at Arni’s,” has been a favorite local saying for over 50 years. Best known for its great pizza and Arni’s Junior Salad. Bistro 501 serves French country cuisine along with an extensive wine list.Sgt. Preston’s of the North has served as another local favorite for 36 years, providing a wide variety of menu and libation options. They feature live music and offer a large, seasonal, outdoor patio while making their home in a building that was built by John Purdue in 1845. Bruno’s has been serving Swiss, Italian and American fare to visitors and locals alike since 1955. You can sometimes visit with Bruno Jr. and talk about all the celebrities that have frequented the place. McGraw’s Steak Chop & Fish House is an award-winning restaurant offering a fine dining atmosphere, superior cuisine, an outstanding wine selection and the tranquility of dinner overlooking the river.

Outdoor adventures abound! Head toHodges Canoe Trips for a peaceful trip down the Tippecanoe River. Golf enthusiasts will find eight daily fee courses, including top-rated courses with designs by Pete Dye and Hale Irwin. Hike the 17+ mile Wabash Heritage Trail, shaded by cottonwoods, sycamores, maples, and oaks, as it takes you along the Wabash River. Become explorers at the Celery Bog and Lilly Nature Center where you will find 185 acres of wetlands listed as a “significant ecological site” by the Indiana Natural Heritage Program. Howl with wolves at Wolf Park’s Howl Nights. The park is home to several packs of gray wolves, fox, coyotes and bison. Explore over 10 miles of nature trails through tall grass prairie, wooded bluffs, alongside ponds, creeks and wetlands at Prophetstown State Park, and cool off at its seasonal aquatic center. Tropicanoe Cove is another, seasonal, aquatic center located in Columbian Park. The park offers over 40 acres of fun including Loeb Stadium—home to the annual Colt World Series—and the Lafayette Aviators Prospect League baseball team! A popular winter activity can be found at Riverside Skating Center, an ice skating rink over-looking the Wabash River.

Offering a unique experience on all aspects of farm life is The Farm at Prophetstown, a 1920’s farmstead highlighting sustainable agriculture, home-steading, heirloom gardening and farm- to-table cooking. Walk the grounds and explore the museum at the Tippecanoe Battlefield, a 96-acre national historic landmark where Native Americans and settlers clashed and a conflict of cultures was resolved. TheIndiana Fiddlers’ Gathering is held here each June.Fort Ouiatenon (wee-ah-teh- non), named for the Wea tribes in the area, was established by the French in 1717 as a fur trading post. This park is home to a replica blockhouse, built in 1930 and was one of the earliest settlements in what was to become the state of Indiana. The park also hosts the annual Feast of the Hunters’ Moon festival each fall.